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9-1-1 Communicators and Officers Recognized

When seconds matter, 9-1-1 Communications staff are the lifeline of any police service. Answering 9-1-1 calls, dispatching officers or other emergency services personnel to an incident and staying in touch with them once they have reached the scene are vital to both public and officer safety.

Durham Regional Police Communications members were honoured recently for their part in saving the lives of heart attack victims at the annual ‘Survivor’s Day’ Awards at Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Facility in Ajax.

Organized by the Central East Prehospital Care Program at Lakeridge Health, the awards were presented to police, fire, and ambulance (EMS) personnel in the region who helped save the lives of heart attack during the past year. Many cardiac survivors were at the ceremony to thank their rescuers in person.

Communicator Tami Hartford was the call taker for two of the 34 survivors in 2009. She has had the opportunity to meet her survivor at past Survivor’s Days.

“It kind of gives us closure on a call, when often times we don't get that,” she said.

She credits teamwork between emergency responders for saving so many lives over the past year.

“When you see the amount of people that take part in a call, from the initial operator, right through to the EMS and fire team, it is incredible the numbers of emergency service workers involved.”